ORIONIDS METEOR SHOWER

Orionids meteor streams are groups of meteoroids originating from dust grains ejected from Comet 1P Halley.
These small dust grains (meteoroids) are distributed along the parent comet's orbit concentrated close to the
comet nucleus with fewer grains farther away from the nucleus. Every time the Earth passes through
this stream of dust particles (i.e. meteor stream), we experience what is known as a Orionids meteor shower.
These brief streaks of light from meteors, sometimes called "shooting stars", peak on Thursday night the 22nd October 2015
when earth moves through the center of the dust trail left behind by the comet.

How to view the Orionids

Go outside, find a dark spot and look north-east near the constelation of Orion for the Orionids radiant. Meteor showers are strictly for night owls or early risers.
The best time to view the Orionids is from around midnight to dawn. They are fast and sometimes bright with some trains.
You should be able to see 30 streaks an hour or more during the peak. The Orionids meteor shower is active from the 2nd Oct to 7th Nov
with fewer activity either side of the peak time.

Meteor Shower List

Of particular interest to solar system dynamics is the association of a parent (source) body with a
specific meteor stream. The following meteor shower table lists known meteor streams in chronological order of peak
activity. In addition to the name of the meteor stream and time of peak activity, the associated parent
body (where known) is also shown.